Canon P

[EdColorado]

I just received a Canon P with a Canon 35mm f2.8 lens...

I think I'm in love.

 

[OptiKen]

I know what you mean, Ed.
I'm tempted to go there, too.

 

[gzinsel]

I have one as well, I think they are superb. The 50mm f/1.8 Is real nice, as well. Also the 100mm f3.5 is super sharp.

 

[EdColorado]

The 50 f1.8 is next on my list, and knowing me as I do I'd expect a 100mm here sometime soon too.

The camera is just so smooth in its operation and such a joy to use. Plus its pretty cool to look at.

 

[Xmas]

You get stopped in street

'What sort of a camera is that?'

 

[EdColorado]

You get stopped in street

'What sort of a camera is that?'

Yeah, with every camera I have!

 

[02Pilot]

I hate to tell you, but you've perhaps unwittingly begun a highly addictive process. I bought a Canon P once. I now count five LTM bodies and 14 lenses on my shelf. Just so you know, it's going to be a fairly expensive next few years.

 

[Xmas]

Yeah, with every camera I have!

The 'Canon' name plate confuses Canon DSLR owners.

 

[EdColorado]

I hate to tell you, but you've perhaps unwittingly begun a highly addictive process. I bought a Canon P once. I now count five LTM bodies and 14 lenses on my shelf. Just so you know, it's going to be a fairly expensive next few years.

Just what I need, another camera addiction...

Just so you know 02pilot, your not allowed near my wife. 100 yards would be a good buffer, no conversations allowed...

Really, its nothing personal... I'm sure you understand...

 

[EdColorado]

The 'Canon' name plate confuses Canon DSLR owners.

Its amazing how many have no idea Canon ever made anything that didn't say EOS on the front.

 

[gzinsel]

Also, there are people who like the 50mm f1.4, and the 50mm f1.5 for the fifties, BUT YOU CAN NOT GO WRONG with any of them. I think the 35mm f2.8 is super smooth and sharp, the 35mm f/2 or f1.8 is a little bit more contrasty, but if you are using the 2.8 you ain;t exactly missin' all that much! no frets! I do not have the 28, 85 or 25, 19, 135 nor have I tried the the f/2, 100mm, I am very, very happy with f3.5 100mm. THAT CANON P i own is awesome. I hope yours is as well.

 

[Jim Jones]

I used the Canon 50mm f/1.4 from a Canon 7 wide open out of necessity for indoor sports. Then Kodak produced T-Max 3200, and I could use a Summicron at higher shutter speeds. Despite the grain, it was a huge improvement.

 

[EdColorado]

I've been looking at the various 50mm f1.8 versions. The Seranar, which I think is the first. The other silver one, and the black and silver. Are there any differences amongst them? My understanding is that the two all silver versions are the same but what about the newer silver and black? They certainly seem to bring a higher price. Any functional differences?

 

[Fixcinater]

The newer silver and black versions of 50/1.8 have a different glass formulation so if the grease from the helicoid ever outgassed through the aperture and onto the glass surfaces, they may be etched. I have one such lens and have been unsuccessful so far in polishing it out.

Sometimes you can find a Canon 7 set with a lens cheap enough that you could get the 50/1.8 nearly for free. But then you're on the slippery slope of finding a *nice* 7 and then trying the oh-so-compact but solid IVSB or similar and so on and so on.

I have the 50/1.2, 50/1.4, 50/1.5 and the hazed 50/1.8 (just missing the Serenar 50/1.9 and then I'll be done collecting Canon LTM 50s...unless I find a cheap .95) and the 1.4 and 1.8 are probably the "best" general purpose lenses, with the 50/1.2 being more of a specialist signature and the 1.5 being nice but decidedly Sonnar so both being more polarizing and less conventional than the double-Gauss 1.8 & 1.4.

 

[Xmas]

The newer silver and black versions of 50/1.8 have a different glass formulation so if the grease from the helicoid ever outgassed through the aperture and onto the glass surfaces, they may be etched. I have one such lens and have been unsuccessful so far in polishing it out.

Sometimes you can find a Canon 7 set with a lens cheap enough that you could get the 50/1.8 nearly for free. But then you're on the slippery slope of finding a *nice* 7 and then trying the oh-so-compact but solid IVSB or similar and so on and so on.

I have the 50/1.2, 50/1.4, 50/1.5 and the hazed 50/1.8 (just missing the Serenar 50/1.9 and then I'll be done collecting Canon LTM 50s...unless I find a cheap .95) and the 1.4 and 1.8 are probably the "best" general purpose lenses, with the 50/1.2 being more of a specialist signature and the 1.5 being nice but decidedly Sonnar so both being more polarizing and less conventional than the double-Gauss 1.8 & 1.4.

If the late /1.8 fogs you need the fog removed regular, leaving it on the surfaces is way risky the late /2.8 5cm has the same problem. But salvage of the /2.8 is more practical cause the delinquent interior surface is plane, that is if you can grind your own telescope mirrors...

The /2.8 was lower volume than the other lenses, I think, there is a collectors database somewhere...

 

[ToddB]

Beautiful camera. The Canon series rangefinder camera would been my second choice if I didn't score the Leica that I have. Simply stunning. Throw some sample pics at us when get time. Love to what it can do.

Todd

 

[02Pilot]

Just what I need, another camera addiction...

Just so you know 02pilot, your not allowed near my wife. 100 yards would be a good buffer, no conversations allowed...

Really, its nothing personal... I'm sure you understand...

Bribery will go a long way toward ensuring I don't accidentally say something within earshot....

 

[Xmas]

Beautiful camera. The Canon series rangefinder camera would been my second choice if I didn't score the Leica that I have. Simply stunning. Throw some sample pics at us when get time. Love to what it can do.

Todd

The LTM Canons can use any Leica standard LTM coupled rangefinder lens, so as well as Canon, and Leica lenses you can use eg Cosina LTM multi costed lenses.

The VI or P are easier to focus than a M2 in tylight.

And you can load film faster.

Canon used a different criteria in lens design than contemporary Leica lenses, simpler, lower resolution but greater contrast.

 

[gzinsel]

In all candor, when you stop down to 5.6,8,11.'ish. . . . its difficult for me to tell the difference between them all with enlargements around 5x-10x, in black and white. I do not shoot color, so I can't add to that debate. A friend of mine has a 50 cron collapsible. We did a very unscientific test. I shot the same subject matter with both lenses using the same aperture. made prints from both. They were indistinguishable from a viewing distance of a 1/2 meter. when you up close, less than 10cm you could see differences. IMO, not using a tripod, makes more of a difference than manufacturer of lens. So ya, Canon ltm for the price is a win.

 

[outwest]

'd love to have a Canon P ...to use my Nikon lenses on. As it is, the original Canon 50 for my VI just sits on the shelf.

 

[Red Robin]

The P(popular)was named before it's makers knew how apt it's moniker would prove to be. Beautiful to look at, easy to use, a rugged piece of hardware in the field. I own three! My other Canon rangefinders also use the LTM lenses, what's not to like? After more than ten years and eight LTM bodies I find they will deal with most any rangefinder need I have. .. ... except what it's like to use a Leica. Now I've finally purchased a Leica iiif. It is a different beast! Tiny in the hand, easy to use, another fine piece of hardware. Not wanting to change the topic Each of my Canon P's represent a different part of the production run. All seem to work and wear the same , the exception being on the middle one having the self-timer lever being de-chromed mostly. I've read some users can have a high skin- salt content that can cause that to happen, still they all work the same. Oh bye the way, the curtains are metal so when accessing inside: keep your fingers off ! A slip may damage and cause a wrinkle. One of mine is wrinkle-free, the other two have wrinkles that do not seem to affect their function . The damage was original to my purchase so I'm unable to sat how long the wrinkles have been there. The Canon P ? Enjoy !

 

[Xmas]

They normally get wrinkled after a ribbon snaps or similar but a fat finger won't be good either...

They will still be reasonable for 1/1000 after a wrinkle so I'd not loose sleep about buying one like that I normally pack three in gbag to allow long sequence of shooting.

The only difference with a Leica M2 is remembering whichever lens you are using.

Alas a decade or so ago they and the lenses were cheap now they have gone cult and >>$!

 

[EdColorado]

It continues...

I believe it was 02pilot who warned about the dangers of buying a Canon P...

My 100mm f3.5 showed up a couple days ago and gads is it a sweet little lens. The 50mm 1.8 should be here today.

My wife is living in blissful ignorance...

 

[Fixcinater]

....gads is it a sweet little lens...blissful ignorance...

That's the best part of 35mm rangefinder gear, it's easy to hide!

 

[gzinsel]

IMO 100/3.5 is the best lens they made THAT I HAVE USED. I do not own all canon ltm, but between the three I shoot a lot of the 100mm f/3/5